Floating pump

ABSTRACT

A floatable pump comprises a centrifugal impeller keyed to the lower end of an impeller shaft which is journaled in a bearing plate. To permit ready disassembly of the pump and withdrawal of the impeller assembly therefrom, the bearing plate and a pumping chamber cover member disposed around the impeller shaft between the impeller and the bearing plate are both detachably secured within an opening in the top surface of the pump housing. Such an opening is dimensioned so as to permit direct withdrawal of the impeller assembly therethrough.

United States Patent I72] inventor Walter F. Chmela 3.397.647 8/1968 Daniel 415/7 Willowdale. Ontario. Canada 3.400.664 9/1968 Kingscp .7 415/7 [2!] Appl. No. 873,282 3.461.807 8/]969 Morrison 4l5/7 lzzl Filed 1969 Primary Examiner-C. .l. Husar [45] Patented Nov. 9.1971 A1mnw\'.\'Arne l. Fors and Frank I. Piper [73] Assignee Watermaster industries Limited London. Ontario, Canada [54] FLOATING PUMP 7C'aims'3 Drawing Fig5 ABSTRACT: A floatable pump comprises a centrifugal impeller keyed to the lower end of an impeller shaft whlch is [52] U.S.Cl t. 415/7, joumukd in a bearing plate To permit ready disassemmy f 415/200- 4 l 5/2 14 the pump and withdrawal of the impeller assembly therefrom. [5]] Int.Cl FOld 25/28 the bearing pkne and a pumping chamber cover member Fleld of Search 415/7 disposed around the impeller shaft between the impeller and the bearing plate are both detachably secured within an open- [56] References cued ing in the top surface of the pump housing. Such an opening is UNITED STATES PATENTS dimensioned so as to permit direct withdrawal of the impeller $393,643 7/1968 Herman 4l5/7 assembly therethrough.

l I V. L 65 61 64 2o 21 62 60 13 11 28 26 27 22 4o 41 4? A h I? 5 .21 92 2/ 7 J a 37 17 A i 18 24 g 36 1e 19 14 F 56 15 12 5 i o 4 3.4 33 31 Q n l 0) O O i O b t) M PATENTEU W 9 I971 INVliNTOR. WALTER F. CHMELA FLOATING PUMP BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to floatable pumps and more particularly to floatable pumps of the type which have considerable utility in many fields, for example, in farming for drainage and irrigation purposes, in the construction industry for removing water from excavations and the like, and in filling and draining swimming pools.

Pumps of this type are already known and are finding increasing application in many fields and for many purposes of which those already mentioned are but a few more important examples. In a known machine of this type, a centrifugal pump is supported by a flotation body so that the water intake to the impeller chamber is submersed in the body of water or other liquid which is to be pumped. In this way, no priming of the pump is required and the pump automatically moves up and down as the water level varies.

An important problem presented by floatable pumps of the aforementioned type is that many of them have relatively complex constructions and are consequently not only relatively expensive to manufacture but, in the event that such a pump must be dismantled for repair or maintenance, such dismantling can be a somewhat time-consuming operation. As the size and weight of the commercially available pumps of this type increase, their dismantling becomes progressively more awkward and difficult.

lt is accordingly a principal object of the present invention to provide a floatable pump of the aforementioned type which pump is more particularly characterized by its relatively simple but effective construction and by the ease with which it can be dismantled, when required, for servicing or repair.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent as the description herein proceeds.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In its broadest scope, the present invention provides a floatable pump comprising a fixed bearing plate, an impeller shaft journaled in said bearing plate and extending downwardly therefrom, an impeller mounted on said impeller shaft downwardly of said bearing plate for corotation with said impeller shaft, a fixed volute cover member disposed around said impeller shaft upwardly of said impeller and defining an upper surface of an annular volute chamber, a pump housing including an upper wall and an inner wall, said inner wall of said pump housing constituting a lower surface of said annular volute chamber, a peripherally defined generally axial opening in said upper wall of said pump housing, said bearing plate and said volute cover member being detachably secured in a generally fluidtight manner within said generally axial opening and said generally axial opening being sufficiently large to permit movement of said impeller therethrough, a flotation chamber within said pump housing for supporting said pump when said pump is disposed in a body of liquid, an intake opening disposed generally axially through said pump housing below said impeller for the supply of liquid to said impeller, and a discharge outlet extending outwardly through said pump housing from said annular volute chamber, whereby said bearing plate, said impeller shaft and said impeller may be removed upwardly from said generally axial opening in said upper wall of said pump housing.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description herein proceeds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will now be described merely by way of illustration with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a particularly useful embodiment of a floatable pump in accordance with the present invention with a part of the pump housing cut away and with its solid flotation material removed for the purpose of revealing the internal construction of the pump;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the pump shown in FIG. 1 when viewed as indicated by the arrows 22 of that FIG.; and

FIG. 3 is a view from below of the impeller of the pump shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The pump generally indicated at 10in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings includes a generally circular fixed bearing plate 11 in which an impeller shaft 12 is generally centrally journaled in a bearing 13 so as to extend downwardly from that plate 11.

An impeller generally indicated at 14 is secured by a thread 15 on the lower end of the impeller shaft 12 for corotation with that shaft. The pump 10 also includes a central generally circular pumping chamber 16 having an upper surface 17 defined by a fixed pumping chamber cover member 18 in which the aforementioned impeller shaft 12 is journaled at 19 and which is detachably secured to a pump housing generally indicated at 20 in a manner to be explained hereinafter in greater detail.

Referring further to the pump housing 20, it will be seen that, for the particular pump 10 shown in the accompanying drawings, such housing 20 includes an annular member which in turn includes an upper wall 21 and an outer wall 22 integrally formed with the upper wall 21 at the outer peripheral edge thereof and extending downwardly therefrom. A downwardly extending radially enlarged lip 23 is integrally formed with the outer wall 22 along the lower edge thereof.

Generally axially, the aforementioned upper wall 21 of the pump housing 20 is formed with a generally circular opening defined by a downwardly displaced seating 24. The cover member 18 and the bearing plate 11 are secured on the pump housing 20 by bolts 26 extending through peripheral flanges 27 and 28 integrally formed with the cover member 18 and the bearing plate 11 respectively as will readily be understood by reference to FIG. 2.

The pump housing 20 also includes an inner wall 30 and a lower wall 31 formed as a unitary structure about an intermediate and generally circular fold line 32. In its outer portion, the lower wall 31 curves upwardly and outwardly as shown at 33 and terminates in a radially extending annular flange 34 which is secured within the aforementioned lip 23 of the outer wall 22.

It will also be seen from the accompanying drawings that the inner wall 30 of the pump housing 20 extends outwardly and upwardly from the aforementioned fold line 32 to define a lower surface of the aforementioned pumping chamber 16 and that the upper portion of this wall 30 curves upwardly and radially inwardly as at 36 to define the outer end of the aforementioned pumping chamber 16 and terminates in a generally horizontal inwardly directed annular flange 37 in which threaded holes are provided for securing the aforementioned bolts 26.

It should also be noted that, in the particular pump 10 shown in the accompanying drawings, the lower wall 31 of the pump housing 30 is formed with several downwardly extending hollow legs 39 for a reason which will become apparent as the description herein proceeds.

The generally annular chamber 40 contained between the inner, outer, upper and lower walls 30, 22, 21 and 31 respectively of the pump housing 20 constitutes a flotation chamber and, for this purpose, is usefully filled with a solid buoyant material as indicated at 41 in FIG. 2 but not shown in FIG. 1.

Referring further to the aforementioned annular fold line 32, it will now be understood that this fold line 32 defines an intake opening generally indicated at 44 and which is disposed generally axially through the pump 10 below the impeller 14 and through which water or other liquid is drawn by the impeller for eventual discharge through a discharge opening generally indicated at 45. In the particular pump 10 shown in the accompanying drawings, this discharge opening 45 is in the form of a generally radial tube 46 integrally formed with the inner wall 30 of the pump housing 20 and extending through the outer wall 22 thereof to terminate in an open end having a radially inwardly directed lip 47 by means of which a discharge hose (not shown) may be coupled thereto in any appropriate manner. It will be understood that the flotation chamber 40 will have a reduced vertical sectional area where the tube 46 passes therethrough as is clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

In accordance with another useful feature of the present invention, the pump is also provided with an intake screen generally indicated at 50 and comprising a circular base 51 having integrally formed therewith an upstanding peripheral wall 52 with a plurality of liquid flow holes 53 extending therethrough. The peripheral wall 52 terminates at its upper peripheral edge in an outwardly extending annular flange 54 disposed below the aforementioned peripheral flange 34 of the lower wall 31 of the pump housing 20. The intake screen 50 is usefully detachably secured to the pump housing 20 to permit its ready removal for cleaning. For this purpose, bolts (not shown) may extend through the flange 54 into threaded holes provided in the aforementioned peripheral flange 34. In its assembled form as illustrated, the legs 39 of the pump housing 20 abut the top surface of the base 51 of the intake screen 50.

Referring now in greater detail to the structure of the impeller 14, it will be seen that this impeller 14 comprises a circular impeller plate 56 having four impeller blades 57 integrally cast, moulded or otherwise formed therewith, and projecting downwardly therefrom. In accordance with a particularly useful feature of the invention, these impeller blades 57 are of the type having a helical configuration and disposition as will best be understood by reference to FIG. 3. Each blade 57 has a lower edge surface 58 which is in sweeping" disposition with respect to the inner wall 30 of the pump housing 20 slightly radially outwardly of the fold line 32, as will best be seen by reference to FIG. 2.

In accordance with another useful feature of the present invention, rotary drive movement is transmitted to the impeller 14 by means of a spur gear 60 corotatably secured to the lower end of a drive shaft 61 journaled at 62 in the bearing plate 11. This spur gear 60 engages internal teeth of an upwardly open ring gear 63 corotatably secured to the impeller shaft 12. The drive shaft 61 extends upwardly from the spur gear 60 through a mounting plate 64 secured to the top surface of the bearing plate 11 by bolts 65. The drive shaft 61 is driven in turn by any suitable rotary power source (not shown), such as an electric motor or a four-stroke gasoline engine. It will further be understood that suitable mountings will normally be provided on the top surface of the pump 10 for securing such an engine and its associated equipment in position thereon. Since such engine and equipment do not form a novel part ofa pump in accordance with this invention, they will not be described in further detail herein. It should perhaps, however, be explained that the aforementioned mounting plate 64 can constitute an integral part of such an engine.

Before describing the manner in which the pump 10 operates, it should perhaps also be pointed out that in accordance with an important feature of the present invention the aforementioned axial opening defined by the seating 24 of the upper wall 21 of the pump housing 20 is at least as large as the impeller plate 56 to permit the latter to be withdrawn upwardly therethrough.

In use, the pump 10 is disposed in the body of water or other liquid to be pumped and floats therein by virtue of the provision of the buoyant material 41 at such a depth that the water flow holes 53 are submersed below the water level. Rotary drive motion is transmitted from the power source (not shown) through the drive shaft 61 and the gears 60 and 63 to the impeller shaft 12 rotate the impeller 14 in the direction indicated by the arrow A in FIG. 3. Such rotation of the impeller 14 causes water to be drawn through the flow holes 53 in the peripheral wall 52 of the intake screen 50 and then through the intake opening 44 for discharge by the impeller blades 57 into the pumping chamber 16 and subsequently into the discharge opening 45. The water finally passes through a hose (not shown) to the desired discharge position,

In the event that the intake screen 50 becomes fouled, this screen is easily removed for cleaning in the manner already described.

In accordance with a particularly important feature of this invention, the impeller assembly constituted by the impeller plate 56 and the impeller shaft 12 can be removed from the pump housing 20 in an exceedingly simple manner. In order to effect such removal, it is merely necessary to remove the bolts 26 and to withdraw the bearing plate 11, the cover member 18 and the impeller assembly as a single unit upwardly from within the pump housing 20. It is to permit such simple disassembly that the axial opening peripherally defined by the seating 24 is at least as large as the impeller plate 56.

The ease with which the impeller assembly can be removed from a pump in accordance with the present invention is particularly advantageous in practice in that the impeller 14 can be replaced with the minimum of effort and downtime.

It will be appreciated that numerous modifications can be made to the pump 10 hereinbefore specifically described without departing from the scope of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A floatable pump comprising: a pump housing including interconnected outer, upper, lower and inner walls forming both an annular flotation chamber for supporting said pump when said pump is disposed in a body of liquid and a central circular pumping chamber; an intake opening extending generally axially through said pump housing below said pumping chamber for the supply of liquid thereinto; a generally axial opening in said upper wall of said pump housing, said generally axial opening being peripherally defined by a junction of said inner and upper walls of said pump housing; a pumping chamber cover member detachably secured to said upper wall in a generally liquid-tight manner within said generally axial opening in said upper wall of said pump housing and defining an upper surface of said pumping chamber; a bearing plate detachably secured in a generally liquid-tight manner to said cover member within said generally axial opening in said upper wall of said pump housing: an impeller shaft journaled in said bearing plate and in said cover member and extending downwardly through said cover member into said pumping chamber; an impeller mounted on said impeller shaft downwardly of said cover plate for rotation within said pumping chamber, said generally axial opening in said upper wall of said pump housing being sufficiently large to permit bodily movement of said impeller therethrough; and a discharge outlet extending outwardly through said pump housing from said pumping chamber for the discharge of liquid therefrom, whereby said bearing plate, said cover member, said impeller shaft and said impeller may be removed upwardly from said generally axial opening in said upper wall of said pump housmg.

2. A floatable pump as claimed in claim 1 in which both said pumping chamber cover member and said inner wall of said pump housing extend radially inwardly and downwardly to define upper and lower surfaces respectively of said pumping chamber, in which said inner wall of said pump housing extends upwardly and inwardly from said lower surface of said pumping chamber to said generally axial opening to define an internal peripheral outer surface of said pumping chamber, in which said inner wall of said pump housing terminates generally peripherally with respect to said intake opening, and in which said impeller comprises a generally circular plate having a plurality of downwardly projecting impeller blades extending helically inwardly across said generally circular plate and having lower edge surfaces disposed in close proximity to said lower surface of said pumping chamber slightly radially outwardly of said intake opening.

3. A floatable pump as claimed in claim 1 in which said impeller shaft has corotatably secured thereto below said bearing plate an upwardly open ring gear and which pump also includes a spur gear drivingly engaging said ring gear and corotatably secured to the lower end of a drive shaft journaled in said bearing plate and extending upwardly therefrom to a rotary power source.

4. A floatable pump as claimed in claim 3 in which said bearing plate and said pumping chamber cover member are separable when detached from said upper wall of said pump housing.

5. A floatable pump as claimed in claim 1 in which said outer wall of said pump housing is integrally formed with said upper wall thereof and in which said lower wall of said pump housing is integrally formed with said inner wall thereof, in which said inner wall and said upper wall of said pump housing are secured together about the periphery of said generally axial opening in said upper wall, in which said outer wall and said lower wall of said pump housing are secured together peripherally around said pump housing, and in which a solid flotation material is disposed within said annular flotation chamber.

6. A floatable pump as claimed in claim 5 which additionally comprises an intake screen disposed below said intake opening and including a generally circular disc with an upstanding peripheral wall detachably secured peripherally about said outer wall of said pump housing and having liquid flow openings therethrough, and in which said lower wall of said pump housing includes downwardly extending and angularly spaced apart legs which abut said generally circular disc of said intake screen.

7. A floatable pump as claimed in claim 1 in which said intake opening is peripherally defined by an inward extension of said inner wall of said pump housing. 

1. A floatable pump comprising: a pump housing including interconnected outer, upper, lower and inner walls forming both an annular flotation chamber for supporting said pump when said pump is disposed in a body of liquid and a central circular pumping chamber; an intake opening extending generally axially through said pump housing below said pumping chamber for the supply of liquid thereinto; a generally axial opening in said upper wall of said pump housing, said generally axial opening being peripherally defined by a junction of said inner and upper walls of said pump housing; a pumping chamber cover member detachably secured to said upper wall in a generally liquid-tight manner within said generally axial opening in said upper wall of said pump housing and defining an upper surface of said pumping chamber; a bearing plate detachably secured in a generally liquid-tight manner to said cover member within said generally axial opening in said upper wall of said pump housing; an impeller shaft journalled in said bearing plate and in said cover member and extending downwardly through said cover member into said pumping chamber; an impeller mounted on said impeller shaft downwardly of said cover plate for rotation within said pumping chamber, said generally axial opening in said upper wall of said pump housing being sufficiently large to permit bodily movement of said impeller therethrough; and a discharge outlet extending outwardly through said pump housing from said pumping chamber for the discharge of liquid therefrom, whereby said bearing plate, said cover member, said impeller shaft and said impeller may be removed upwardly from said generally axial opening in said upper wall of said pump housing.
 2. A floatable pump as claimed in claim 1 in which both said pumping chamber cover member and said inner wall of said pump housing extend radially inwardly and downwardly to define upper and lower surfaces respectively of said pumping chamber, in which said inner wall of said pump housing extends upwardly and inwardly from said lower surface of said pumping chamber to said generally axial opening to define an internal peripheral outer surface of said pumping chamber, in which said inner wall of said pump housing terminates generally peripherally with respect to said intake opening, and in which said impeller comprises a generally circular plate having a plurality of downwardly projecting impeller blades extending helically inwardly across said generally circular plate and having lower edge surfaces disposed in close proximity to said lower surface of said pumping chamber slightly radially outwardly of said intake opening.
 3. A floatable pump as claimed in claim 1 in which said impeller shaft has corotatably secured thereto below said bearing plate an upwardly open ring gear and which pump also includes a spur gear drivingly engaging said ring gear and corotatably secured to the lower end of a drive shaft journalled in said bearing plate and extending upwardly therefrom to a rotary power source.
 4. A floatable pump as claimed in claim 3 in which said bearing plate and said pumping chamber cover member are separable when detached from said upper wall of said pump housing.
 5. A floatable pump as claimed in claim 1 in which said outer wall of said pump housing is integrally formed with said upper wall thereof and in which said lower wall of said pump housing is integrally formed with said inner wall thereof, in which said inner wall and said upper wall of said pump housing are secured together about the periphery of said generally axial opening in said upper wall, in which said outer wall and said lower wall of said pump housing are secured together peripherally around said pump housing, and in which a solid flotation material is disposed within said annular flotation chamber.
 6. A floatable pump as claimed in claim 5 which additionally comprises an intake screen disposed below said intake opening and including a generally circular disc with an upstanding peripheral wall detachably secured peripherally about said outer wall of said pump housing and having liquid flow openings therethrough, and in which said lower wall of said pump housing includes downwardly extending and angularly spaced apart legs which abut said generally circular disc of said intake screen.
 7. A floatable pump as claimed in claim 1 in which said intake opening is peripherally defined by an inward extension of said inner wall of said pump housing. 